Chicago-area nonprofits share $141,000 in grants from Veterans Cash scratch-off lottery ticket sales

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) today announces $141,069 in grants from the Illinois Lottery’s Veterans Cash scratch-off ticket sales. The funds will help three Chicago-area nonprofits deliver supportive programs to local veterans.

“The transition from service member to civilian can be daunting for some veterans,” said IDVA Director Erica Borggren. “The Veterans Cash lottery ticket is a win-win for players and for veterans who sometimes struggle to reintegrate back into everyday life.”

Second-quarter (FY 12) grants have been awarded to the following Illinois organizations:

• EdgeAlliance—$67,669 to support low income and homeless veterans at Alpha House, which is located in Chicago’s North Lawndale community. The grant will fund facility renovation in order to house veterans with critical needs. 

• Evanston Vet Center—$17,550 to support two separate psychologist-led therapeutic programs designed to help female veterans and couples.

o For women who have experienced service-related trauma, a grant of $4,310 will fund a weeklong retreat to help the women bond with other female veterans and help to boost their mental and physical resilience.
o For married couples, a second grant of $13,240 will support weekend retreats to help couples focus on marital issues brought on by a spouse suffering from service-related stress and mental health conditions.

• Matthew House—$55,850 to support efforts to aid and assist homeless veterans on Chicago’s South Side. The award includes educational and vocational training, rental assistance, and transportation assistance for veterans in their programs. Matthew House accepts referrals from Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Featherfist, Hines VA Medical Center, and the Haymarket Center. 
 

Championed by now-Governor Pat Quinn in 2006, Veterans Cash has funded programs for veterans throughout Illinois. All proceeds from ticket sales are deposited into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund, making it the first Illinois Lottery ticket for which 100 percent of the net proceeds are dedicated to support Illinois veterans.

On a quarterly basis, IDVA’s Veterans Cash Grant Committee reviews applications and awards grants to groups that help address PTSD, homelessness, health insurance costs, long-term care and disability benefits. To date, more than 160 organizations have shared more than $9 million in funding.

To apply for a grant, please download an application at the Veterans Cash website.

For more information about IDVA and its programs, please visit the agency’s homepage.